1997 Sport Nautique Steering cable

[samvogt]

Hi,
I am new to this site. Have had my Nautique since new and love it. I had a steering cable replaced by my dealer 3 years ago and it is already tight. I've researched and isolated it down to the cable. I've looked on my cable and the numbers are worn so that they are hard to read. My dealer wants 250.00 for this unit. I think I need a 20 foot Teleflex rack and pinion cable. Can anyone tell me the exact Teleflex number so I can purchase it online or does Nautique have a monopoly on this unit? Thanks, and any support or comments will greatly help. Sam

[lacourj]

Steering cable source

Sam, I have the same exact problem with my 1999 Nautique. I do not know the part number but contact the folks at whitelakemarine which is also nautiqueparts.com. Their price for your cable is $277 (before tax or shipping) BUT they can give you the part number for you to shop around. Good luck. Jim

[DanielC]

There is a possibility your rudder port needs cleaning, and new grease.

If you let water sit in the bilge, it can work back up into the steering cable, and make it get hard to move.

Sometimes you can free up a used cable by taking the aluminum tube off the rudder end of the cable, taking every thing apart, and greasing it new grease. Mark where every thing is, and take careful notes. Take pictures if you need to of how the parts go together. A failure or disconnect of these parts can lead the the cable suddenly failing, and the boat going into a sudden violent turn. If the rudder bolts are not safety wired, it is possible for the rudder to fall out, and you lose an expensive part, and have a rather large hole on the bottom of your boat.

I use grease from Mercury Marine, the 2-4-C grease. You can get it in a 10 oz. tube.

There was an update in the helm pieces of the 1997 Ski Nautiques. I do not know if the Sport Nautique need updated pieces, or not. I believe the updated helm pieces require a different steering cable, because the rack, attached to the cable is slightly different.

[samvogt]

steering cable

There is a possibility your rudder port needs cleaning, and new grease.

If you let water sit in the bilge, it can work back up into the steering cable, and make it get hard to move.

Sometimes you can free up a used cable by taking the aluminum tube off the rudder end of the cable, taking every thing apart, and greasing it new grease. Mark where every thing is, and take careful notes. Take pictures if you need to of how the parts go together. A failure or disconnect of these parts can lead the the cable suddenly failing, and the boat going into a sudden violent turn. If the rudder bolts are not safety wired, it is possible for the rudder to fall out, and you lose an expensive part, and have a rather large hole on the bottom of your boat.

I use grease from Mercury Marine, the 2-4-C grease. You can get it in a 10 oz. tube.

There was an update in the helm pieces of the 1997 Ski Nautiques. I do not know if the Sport Nautique need updated pieces, or not. I believe the updated helm pieces require a different steering cable, because the rack, attached to the cable is slightly different.

Hi,
Thanks for your help. I removed the cable from the rudder arm(pitman arm?) and th e rudder moves very easily. I removed the steering wheel and the rubber protector on the helm to see if anything was blocked. I loosened the sleeve nut where the cable retracts in and out, removed it from the sleeve and no noticeable difference in the steering tightness. I think I am down to the cable unless you can think of anything else? Thanks, Sam

[DanielC]

It's the cable.

[H2O]

Correct Craft uses a "special" steering cable. You must use this cable because it has more "throw" than typical steering cables of the same length.

[teamseal]

Not on a 97! nothing special about it! other than it was a heavier jacket cable. I am putting Teleflex Extreem cables in older Nautiques (94 and newer with Teleflex Rack and pinion) and changing out the rack assembly. Better way to Go!

[Skier12]

Teamseal,

Can you give some more info about this conversion? What are the advantages/disadvantages and the costs?

I have a 94 sport and the steering cable will need to be replaced in the near future.

[richard]

hydro steering

I have a friend modified his MC steering cable with hydro type,this may be a ultmost way, I'm may go same way since after 2 year replaced,the teleflex cable on my SAN became tight again, another advantage of hydro steering ,it can keep on direction with hands free while cruising.

[wake_fun]

Not on a 97! nothing special about it! other than it was a heavier jacket cable. I am putting Teleflex Extreem cables in older Nautiques (94 and newer with Teleflex Rack and pinion) and changing out the rack assembly. Better way to Go!

Can you tell us more about this? Maybe pics and part #'s for the new rack and pinion your talking about? I've got a 1995 SS so this might work for me.

[teamseal]

Can you tell us more about this? Maybe pics and part #'s for the new rack and pinion your talking about? I've got a 1995 SS so this might work for me.

I would love to but White Lake has a Monoply on this web site and I have been told under no terms can I sell nor imply that my business has new parts and equipment for your boat for sale on Planet Nautique.
Until the operator of this web site decides to open up to Fair trade and business practices I am stuck And you will need to contact White Lake if you are considering to purchase parts thru this web site.

Cheers !
Jody

[wake_fun]

I would love to but White Lake has a Monoply on this web site and I have been told under no terms can I sell nor imply that my business has new parts and equipment for your boat for sale on Planet Nautique.
Until the operator of this web site decides to open up to Fair trade and business practices I am stuck And you will need to contact White Lake if you are considering to purchase parts thru this web site.

Cheers !
Jody

Well you can send me a PM, or email......... I've bought items from skidim.com also

[samvogt]

steering cable

It's the cable.

Daniel,
Are you familiar with the upgrade that Teamseal is referring to in this post?

[DanielC]

I am not real familiar. My steering cable, on my 1997 Ski Nautique was replaced at a Correct Craft dealer.
I did replace a steering cable on a 1998 Ski Nautique, but I was told by the time the 1998 was made, the upgraded, or newer parts were already on it.
These changes may or may not have happened with the Sport Nautiques, and could of happened in a different time in the model year.

[whitelakerider]

You can do a few things:

Replace the cable with an OEM cable from the factory about $277

Replace the cable with an teleflex equivalent (non oem) for about $165

Replace the cable and back helm with the newer style ($64 for helm part, and $189 for cable) the newer cable is a heaver grade cable, but we don't see it last any longer then the original kind, so do at your own choosing.

We do carry those... you have to call in for the $165 since we like to explain the reason and give you the choice.



Thanks,